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2014 NFL Draft: Best Available on Day 2

There are players at the top of the second round who will vastly outshine the late-first round picks. Historically, it’s really one group. That’s why you see smart teams — like San Francisco in 2013 and Seattle this year — eagerly scoop up a third- or fourth-round pick to move back five or ten spots. The player available at pick 40 is just as good as the one at pick 26.

Top 10 players still available:1. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama – His body of work is on a different plane than Taylor Lewan and Ja’Wuan James, both picked on Thursday. How bad could his knees be?
2. Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss – I called him this year’s Keenan Allen. Maybe more true than I realized.
3. Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota – Ceiling is much, much higher than most interior linemen who went in the first.
4. Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame – Several 3-4 teams could fortify their run defense in a heartbeat with Nix.
5. Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame – Ditto.
6. Marqise Lee, WR, USC – Film reveals he’s more methodical and less explosive than his numbers might indicate. Still, a very good athlete that can beat DBs a lot of different ways. Second-round value.
7. Telvin Smith, LB, Florida State – Flies around the field almost as well as Ryan Shazier.
8. Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, Georgia Tech – Violent OLB play personified.
9. Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia – Big and more athletic than his waistline might suggest.
10. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor – Darren Sproles-lite.

Other Day 2 values:QB
Derek Carr – More pro-ready than most. Some disturbing tape against Nevada.

RB
Carlos Hyde – Not a quick-twitch athlete, but has a lot of attractive traits.

WR
Allen Robinson – Although he won’t beat DBs out of breaks or over the top, he adjusts on the ball exceptionally well and has the frame and leaping ability to go get it. Fits the Anquan Boldin mold.